XML

XML is a cross-platform,
extensible, text-based standard for representing data. When XML data is exchanged
between parties, the parties are free to create their own tags to describe
the data, set up schemas to specify which tags can be used in a particular
kind of XML document, and use XML stylesheets to manage the display and handling
of the data.

For example, a web service can use XML and a schema to produce price
lists, and companies that receive the price lists and schema can have their
own stylesheets to handle the data in a way that best suits their needs. Here
are examples:

One company might put XML pricing information through a program
to translate the XML to HTML so that it can post the price lists to its intranet.

A partner company might put the XML pricing information through
a tool to create a marketing presentation.

Another company might read the XML pricing information into
an application for processing.